Philippe Lyonnais

Philippe Lyonnais (1468-1494) was a French brigand leader during the late 15th century. Philippe, who was born near Lyon, France, commanded a sizable brigand army in the region until he was slain at the Battle of Lyon in 1494.

Biography
Philippe Lyonnais was born in the area around the city Lyon, France, from which he drew his nom de guerre. Philippe came from humble origins, and he decided to turn to brigandage in order to make a living for himself and his family. He earned the nickname "Lyonnais", and he became a feared brigand leader, eventually amassing an army of around 500 brigands. In 1494, Loys de Chabannes was dispatched to crush Lyonnais' force to the north of the city. Lyonnais' forces were charged by French knights, and Lyonnais was slain in the battle, as were the majority of his men. Lyonnais' death made him a martyr in the eyes of many peasants who opposed King Charles VIII of France's centralized government.